Greece Athens ToursVisiting Greece, you will notice that too many coffee shops exist. This is because coffee culture is prevalent in the country, starting from bakeries that serve coffee to fast food stores. Coffee lovers can find quality coffee shops to enjoy their morning breakfast. But which are the types of coffee that are served, and which brands are good? Let’s see the best coffee shops in Greece.
Types of coffee that are served in Greece
The most popular is the traditional Greek coffee, which still remains number one in the Balkans and the Middle East. This type of coffee is well-known worldwide, especially in the Mediterranean.
The second most popular comes the Frappe iced coffee, which is a robust coffee because it’s instant, not boiled like the previous one. It was found accidentally back in the 70s when a security guard didn’t have hot water to make a Greek coffee.
Then follows the freddo espresso and freddo cappuccino, which are very popular among young people. For information, the Greeks adapted the classic espresso in their own way! This is how freddo espresso, with the addition of shaken milk, became freddo or cold cappuccino, an art with quality ready to drink! You can always add on top cinnamon or chocolate for a better taste. Many locals buy a coffee and relax next to the seaside.
Also, you can find all the other types of taf coffee, such as Americano, hot espresso, French coffee, macchiato, hot cappuccino, etc.
In 2018, 40,000 tons of coffee were consumed in Greece, this number That equals 5 billion cups at 510 cups per person.
According to the World Coffee Organization, Greece is in 17th place globally in per capita consumption with 5.4 kg per year. In first place is Finland with 12 kg!
Regarding the average cost of a cup of cappuccino in coffee, Greece is in 16th place at $ 3.49, while the highest average price is in Denmark at $ 5.20
Best Coffee shops in Greece
Coffee Island
It was awarded for a second time as the best coffee chain in Southeastern Europe. This roastery was founded in 1999, combining the coffee grinder with an espresso bar. Today, it has over 430 stores in Greece and abroad. You can find them in the UK, Canada, and the UAE (Dubai).
Mikel
Opened their first store in 2008 and today have a network with over 230 stores in 8 countries. Almost 200 stores operate in over 50 cities in Greece. It should be noted that in the wider area of Attica, there are more than 70. The chain is developed in Cyprus, where it has more than 10 points, while it has also been located in Great Britain (London), the USA (Massachusetts), Australia (Sydney), the UAE (Dubai), Saudi Arabia (Jeddah), and Bulgaria. The company plans to expand to other countries, such as Romania, Poland, Turkey, and Egypt.
IL TOTO
The company started back in 2020 and rapidly became one of the fastest-growing coffee brands in Greece. In 2025, it already has 170 shops in Greece, thanks to the franchise. The coffee beans are imported from Colombia, Brazil, Costa Rica, and Ethiopia.
Gregory’s
It started its operation in 1972 as a chain of snacks, offering Greek coffee and new types of coffee to its customers. From the 2000s, it began to evolve, adding to its range the new mild coffee and the cold brew. Today, it has more than 315 stores in Greece, Cyprus, Germany, Romania, and the Bahamas.
Coffee Berry
It started in 2016, including the coffee grinder and nuts. In just three years, the chain has grown rapidly with 115 stores in Greece and Cyprus. They serve specialty coffee beans in town. It is one of the best coffee shops in Athens.
Coffee Lab
It started as a coffee shop in a small city in 2009. It is the first street in Athens Taf coffee chain that fully implements and makes known the “Third wave of coffee” in Greece. The company has more than 100 stores and a presence already in Cyprus, Egypt, and soon in other countries.
Everest
It is the oldest chain in Greece in fast food and, in recent years, has been claiming a significant share of coffee shops with more than 130 stores in Greece. It also serves street food with a rich menu.
Starbucks
The company started to operate in Greece back in 2002, and at the beginning was very popular. However, in the last decade, only a few left as the competition was rising continuously.
Flocafe
The longest-lived coffee chain in Greece is Flocafe, which started operating in 1994. In 1995, the first store outside Athens was opened and served 8 different types of espresso. In 2003, the Flocafe brand was released for the first time outside Greece, in Cyprus. In 2014, Flocafe made another step forward and was redefined as the Flocafe Espresso Room. Today, Flocafé has over 120 stores and star in the catering industry. It is cozy. They also serve cocktails and food, and operate till late hours at night with music.
Source: olivemagazine.gr
